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A better defence will often out do a better attack. If we don't learn to defend as a team, take pride in defending, we won't go Anywhere.

As Joe Cole is saying, we were stupid to sell them Havertz - we did ok - and it might have been a different game if we'd played Estavao or brought him on earlier - I still don't see what people see in Neto - how many times did he put the ball in to no-mans-land yesterday... sure he'd do well at Citeh 😁 I know James is our Captain and all that but I think he's a right back - not much more. Early days - cannot moan too much.

During the SAF era, I honestly would've placed Man U at #1 (SAF IMO was a bully who had the ear of the refs), but they've since struggled to remain relevant in the 13 years since his retirement, so I don't quite feel the same way about them anymore. Also they were the stereotypical glory-hunter club. I'm honestly more ambivalent about Liverpool than most on here. When I first started supporting Chelsea (early 2000s), they themselves were struggling to remain relevant, and them fixating on their history from the early 2000s to about the late 2010s (when they started consistently becoming a title threat) was more hilarious than anything else. Perhaps if I lived closer to Anfield, or if I started supporting Chelsea during the 70s/80s (when Liverpool were the glory-hunter club of choice), I'd feel differently. Brisbane is full of Liverpool fans, but I just kinda...ignore them. Granted, there were those spicy games in the mid-to-late 2000s, but we usually came out on top during those encounters, anyway. Ofc I hate Crotchenham; that's the duty of every Chelsea supporter. The main reason why I decided to travel down for the game against Western Sydney is because I didn't want to meet any Crotchenham fans (I honestly don't think I've met any before, so I guess I'm blessed). They're fun to goof on though, and from a patriotic POV, I admit that I didn't want Ange to do badly with them. Arsenal have always been in my Top 3. During the early 2000s, they were another glory-hunter favourite, and they constantly had the wood over us until after about 2004 or so (even in 2004-05, I don't think we actually beat them in the league...). And now under our current 'management', they have the wood over us again. Watching Drogba bully Senderos constantly in the late 2000s was fun. Historically I didn't hate City, but in-between the FFP dodginess and the whole Maresca tapping-up affair, my opinion of them has certainly soured. Obviously have never thought much of Barcelona (or UEFAlona). Dishonourable mention goes to QPR. Like I've said, they're a cruddy, two-bit skidmark of a club, and their supporters are total lowlifes. And they would be on any planet. I can't imagine that the Martian QPR fanbase is any better than Earth's QPR fan base. Crystal Palace's supporters aren't above mocking us on online forums, so I'm happy when we beat them as well, even though they've never been serious rivals. Don't really care that much about Fulham or West Ham (again, they've not been serious rivals in my time supporting Chelsea), and Leeds have generally been irrelevant since I've started supporting Chelsea (they were declining by the time I started supporting Chelsea), so I feel much more detached RE Leeds than older Chelsea supporters would. Milwall come across as a bunch of thugs, but I don't even remember the last time we even played them, so again there's that same detachment.

Our defensive record with silva under Poch n Lamp were not great. We were great under TT though. Imo we don't have cb problem.

Penders Acheampong Lacroix Colwill Palestra (or Gusto) Watson Barco Chavarria Estevao Welbeck Quenda

Needs to play. Will get his chance midweek. Hopefully does enough to start holding a spot until others return.

We didn't play our best, but still had our moments. Arsenal were the better team overall, but we didn't disgrace ourselves. Obviously the issue with our defence and midfield are well-publicised. Alonso will have to find a way to address these issues.

Dibu for me, his ups completely outweighed his downs

Roger n Palmer are quite poor defensively from attacker pov

Is this the role that he has earmarked Henderson to fulfill?

They of course ,were far superior to us and that’s the depressing reality. The margins were there for at least a draw, which makes it more crushing. What hasn’t been as widely mentioned as the kick on Martinez or the Rice foul, was when Konsa lifted up Rogers threw him to the floor, which led to the winner. Despite this, they were so organised and had so much control, I can’t ‘feel’ those injustices in the same way /in context to the game. The knock-on effect of missing out on Camara instantly felt. Basketball football until that’s sorted, just utilise the front 3 as much as possible.

Says even less for the muppet who thought it would be a good idea to sign him in the first place. Not slagging off Barco as I've hardly seen him play. But like you say, if the manager thinks that playing Malo f**king Gusto in midfield is better than playing Barco there, then a head should roll in the recruiting department. Of course, we know very well that nothing will happen in that regard.

Arteta would never buy Barco. Too small and Ginger.

Alonso likes him.

Now I didn't mind Madueke as much as some folk on here, and stuck up for him regularly. But I did realise his limitations and accepted that he was young player who, I hoped, had the capacity to improve. Neto is everything Madueke was. His one method of beating a player is generally kicking it ahead of himself and hoping to out race his opponent. His decision making at the crucial moment is often wrong. His crossing badly needs improving. For me, Madueke was better in the air. More of a threat when he got in the box. And defensively, (arguably), offered more effort and certainly more physicality than Neto. Like Madueke, Neto's body language and reactions often aren't great. RJ bollocking him him the other week for not chasing back is a good example. Neto often slows our attacks down. He isn't direct and agressive like Estevao. He isn't brave in the moments you want him to be brave. He's OK as squad player, making up the numbers. Useful in some circumstances coming off the bench. Just like Madueke.

Yeah think It’s a tactical flaw. Colwill needs to be in the CCB role instead of Lacroix progressing the ball which is his strength, and Lacroix needs to be at RCB. Issue I think is Alonso needs Lacroix height and strength as the CCB.

The club know more than we do, and there is a reason most of our managers since last season have insisted on moving him into the middle of the park. He doesn’t have the legs to play as a marauding RB anymore. If Alonso insists on playing 3-4-3 there is no role for him.

If he's as fit as you say, then he really should be playing in his specialist position at right back or right wing back. The fact that Alonso is choosing to play Neto or Gusto there instead speaks volumes ...

He’s not holding the team to ransom. We’re lucky to have him. He’s playing midfield because we’re short on numbers, which is really annoying. His fitness is the best I’ve seen for years. If he stays fit all season… I say start him at right back next season.

You could easily say the same for Fofana. Both of those guys should be the ones setting the standards, and not in the conversation for who was most at fault for goals conceded ...

Nope but it’s that ridiculous contract that is a noose around our neck. If Reece James can't play RCB, RB or RWB , then he is holding the team to Ransom. We need to start having the uncomfortable conversations, but there isn’t a market.

Whether to mark him with one man or none ?

I think what Alonso needs more than anything is someone on the pitch that he can rely on to organise the defence. Someone with a bit of experience. Think of the likes of Silva or Desailly. Joined us at what most thought was the swansong of their careers but brought a wealth of experience and confidence to the back line.

Trouble is Reece is a RB who can't play RB. If everyone's fit, does he even have a spot on the team?